After passing on college to go straight to the NBA from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey, J.R. Smith is going back to school with a lofty goal: to play college golf.
The 35-year-old two-time NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 has enrolled at North Carolina A&T and, if cleared by the NCAA, plans to play on the HBCU’s men’s golf team.
“Ray Allen kind of convinced me,” Smith said Wednesday while rocking an Aggies shirt at the Wyndham Championship pro-am in Greensboro, North Carolina. “We had a little golf trip in (the Dominican Republic) and he was talking about some of the things he was doing, about going back to school and challenging yourself for us athletes. I really took heed to it and decided to go back – and one of the best liberal studies programs is at A&T.”
North Carolina A&T competes in Division I in the Big South conference, with classes starting Aug. 18. Smith, a 5 handicap, and his family are moving to Greensboro.
“I’ve got no free time now. Raising kids and going to school, my schedule will be full. I can’t wait to be a part of the HBCU family,” said Smith. “I’ve really been embraced by everybody so far on campus. I’m looking forward to start going to football games and repping Aggie Pride.”
College signing day for @TheRealJRSmith. 🧢
The two-time @NBA champ is enrolling @NCATAggies with his sights set on the golf team.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 11, 2021
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